John was Christ’s forerunner, as Elias (Elijah) will be at his second coming. However, the people did not receive John as “the messenger of the Lord” but treated him merely as a spectacle. When they contemplated John, who came as an ascetic “neither eating nor drinking”, they said he had a demon; but perversely they judged Jesus, who came “eating and drinking”, to be “a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners”. But these rejectors of God’s word were condemned by Jesus, e.g. “But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee”.
There were some who readily accepted the teaching of both John and Jesus, and such are likened to babies, who drink the word of God as milk. It is truly remarkable that throughout history experts in theology, the “wise and prudent”, are unable to understand the teaching of the scriptures while ordinary people who read the word of God with willing minds do understand. But this is God’s will. What a lesson this is for us: to become like little children in relation to the things of God, for Jesus said: “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein”. Luke 18:17Waiting for response for Luke 18:17
Jesus invites all, especially those who are heavily burdened, to come unto him and find rest. In those days, burdens were made lighter by carrying them on a yoke and Jesus offers us his yoke to ease the strain of our present life. By learning from him we obtain a glorious hope for the future in which saints will obtain eternal rest in the kingdom of God. This hope can make any affliction or suffering in this present life seem insignificant compared with the glory of the future age. Romans 8:18,Waiting for response for Romans 8:18 2 Corinthians 4:17Waiting for response for 2 Corinthians 4:17
This chapter speaks of the reception, or rather the rejection, of both John the Baptist and Jesus by the Jews.